Professional Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Dug a quick pit at 10,500 ft on an east aspect in coke chute and found some 4 finger facets under an old pencil hardness windslab that were reactive with on a compression test (CT 14,16 Q1 SP).  On my skis I was never able to break through this crust on the way up or down, but with a big storm/load and in areas were this wind slab is shallower this layer could become more of a concern.

Snow Stability

Key Points

Toured from 7600 feet up to 10500 feet up V bowl and part the way up coke chute.   Here are some observations:

• No signs of instability were seen on my tour today
• 5cm new snow from the parking lot up to about 9000 feet
• 10-15cm new low dentistry F hardness snow from 9000 ft – 10500 ft
• A very light 1cm wind crust/wind effect snow in open/exposed areas (no wind effect in sheltered areas and gullies)
• Flagging and drifting snow was observed along most ridge lines
• Wind transport was cross loading the start zones/tops of the chutes but all the snow I found on my tour was such low density it wasn’t forming much of a slab (at least bellow 10,500 ft)
• New snow seemed to bond decently to the old surface as when skinning and skiing on steeper terrain I wasn’t able to get any loose dry releases
• Ski crampons would have been very useful above 8500ft as it was dust on crust skinning conditions.
• Decent bootpack conditions with a supportable crust 5-15cm down
• Bottom half of coke chute skied nicely, especially in the gullies and loaded areas
• All of V bowl skied with dust on crust conditions and included a bit of adventure skiing and careful obstacle dodging bellow 8500ft